Towards A New Developmental Synthesis: Adaptive Developmental Plasticity And Human Disease

Authors

P. D. Gluckman
M. A. Hanson
P. Bateson
A. S. Beedle
C. M. Law
Z. A. Bhutta
K. V. Snokhin
P. Bougneres
G. R. Chandak
P. Dasgupta
G. D. Smith
P. T. Ellison
T. E. Forrester
Scott F. Gilbert, Swarthmore CollegeFollow
E. Jablonka
H. Kaplan
A. M. Prentice
S. J. Simpson
R. Uauy
M. J. West-Eberhard

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-9-2009

Published In

Lancet

Abstract

The Lancet has rightly drawn attention to the goals of reducing the burden of maternal and childhood undernutrition,¹ focusing mainly on short-term outcomes such as infant survival and stunting.² However, the longer term effects on adult health³ of a poor start to life suggest a further perspective. Developmental effects have been viewed traditionally in the context of major disruptions such as caused by teratogens, prematurity and growth retardation, but there is increasing appreciation of the role of developmental plasticity, which provides individuals with the flexibility to adjust their trajectory of development to match their environment.

Comments

This work is a preprint that is freely available courtesy of Elsevier.

Recommended Citation

P. D. Gluckman, M. A. Hanson, P. Bateson, A. S. Beedle, C. M. Law, Z. A. Bhutta, K. V. Snokhin, P. Bougneres, G. R. Chandak, P. Dasgupta, G. D. Smith, P. T. Ellison, T. E. Forrester, Scott F. Gilbert, E. Jablonka, H. Kaplan, A. M. Prentice, S. J. Simpson, R. Uauy, and M. J. West-Eberhard. (2009). "Towards A New Developmental Synthesis: Adaptive Developmental Plasticity And Human Disease". Lancet. Volume 373, Issue 9675. 1654-1657. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60234-8
https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-biology/171